Under § 18.2-460 of the Code of Virginia, it’s a crime to interfere with the lawful actions of police officers, court officials, investigators and more. “Obstruction of justice” can involve a wide variety of behaviors. While the law aims to keep people from...
The police cannot charge someone on a whim. To do so, they first need compelling evidence that amounts to probable cause. Unless the police have directly witnessed a crime, they usually need to conduct an investigation. This is the process of assessing the facts they...
Your child calling to inform you they got arrested can be disappointing. What can you do to protect them? How you handle your child's arrest can substantially affect them. You want to make informed decisions. Here is what to consider doing when your child tells you...
Anyone who’s watched true crime shows has likely heard a person being Mirandized. This means that a police officer has read the person in question their Miranda rights. These rights are based on a case that was heard by the United States Supreme Court. That case...
One of the most challenging aspects of facing a criminal charge is trying to determine what sentence is possible if you’re convicted. This isn’t always easy to determine, and some criminal cases can take a long time to work through the court system to the final...
It is very common for police officers to ask people questions while detaining them. For example, an officer may pull someone over for speeding. But instead of just giving them a ticket, the officer may ask them if they know how fast they were going or where they were...
If you’re ever faced with questioning by law enforcement, know that the experience can vary significantly depending on whether you are dealing with local police officers or federal agents employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Most of the time, local...
Juvenile sex offenders are individuals under the age of 18 convicted of a sex crime. In Virginia, the juvenile justice system manages these cases differently than adult sex offenders, focusing more on restoration and less on punishment. Juvenile or adult court: 3...
The Fourth Amendment is a crucial federal rule that protects people from abuses of state power by expanding on the basic protections of the Constitution. Specifically, the Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and property seizures. Police...
Catfishing is a term used to describe people who lie about their identity online. They may invent a new identity entirely, or they may pretend to be someone else, like a celebrity. The other person has no idea that this is happening and believes the interaction is...